Pixar’s Jay Ward Marks 20 Years of “Cars” With a Walt Disney Family Museum Talk This July

The Walt Disney Family Museum is celebrating the 20th anniversary of Disney and Pixar’s Cars with a July 25 theater talk featuring franchise creative director Jay Ward, who helped shape the original film and the world of Radiator Springs. Tickets range from $25 for members to $45 for general admission, with public sales already underway.

Pixar’s Jay Ward Marks 20 Years of “Cars” With a Walt Disney Family Museum Talk This July

“Kachow!” To mark the 20th anniversary of Disney and Pixar’s Cars (2006), the Walt Disney Family Museum is hosting an in-person theater talk on Saturday, July 25 with Jay Ward, the franchise’s longtime creative director. Ward helped bring the original film to life and has guided the world of Radiator Springs ever since — from the big screen to Cars Land at Disney California Adventure.

Key Details

Twenty Years of Cars

Released in June 2006, Cars introduced audiences to hotshot race car Lightning McQueen and the dusty Route 66 town of Radiator Springs, launching one of Pixar’s most merchandisable and enduring franchises. Two decades on, the property spans theatrical sequels, the Disney+ series Cars on the Road, and an entire themed land — Cars Land at Disney California Adventure Park in Anaheim, anchored by the fan-favorite Radiator Springs Racers attraction. The museum is inviting guests to make its theater “a pit stop on your summer road trip” and grab tickets “before they’re ‘Real Gone.’”

Who Is Jay Ward?

Jay Ward joined Pixar Animation Studios in the art department on the 2001 feature Monsters, Inc. before moving into early development on Cars. His deep knowledge of the automotive world made him a natural fit for several key roles on the film, including character team manager and automotive consultant to the director and creative team. He went on to manage the art departments for Ratatouille (2007) and Brave (2012) and served as associate producer on the 2008 short Presto.

Ward later lent his “all things Cars” expertise as a key consultant on the creation of Cars Land, and served as creative director on Cars 3 (2017) and the Disney+ series Cars on the Road (2022). His passion for the franchise even extended to co-designing the Porsche and Pixar “911 Sally Special,” a bespoke vehicle that was auctioned for charity at a record-setting $3.6 million. Today his role spans creative oversight of Pixar’s entire slate of legacy films, shaping global projects such as Pixar In Real Life, Pixar Putt, the Mundo Pixar experience, and Toy Story Funday Football on ESPN and Disney+, which earned multiple Sports Emmy Awards.

How to Get Tickets

The museum rolled out access in tiers, with priority going to members:

Becoming a member — or upgrading an existing membership — unlocks priority access and discounts on programs like this one. Guests can also request American Sign Language (ASL) interpreters for the talk; the museum partners with Bay Area Communication Access (BACA), and requests must be submitted at least two weeks in advance.

Why This Matters for Pixar Fans

Talks like this are a rare chance to hear directly from the people who built a Pixar world, and few know Cars better than the man who has shepherded it for 20 years. For Bay Area fans — or visitors planning a summer trip to San Francisco’s Presidio — an afternoon with Jay Ward offers behind-the-scenes stories spanning the original film, Cars Land, and Pixar’s broader legacy. With public tickets now available online, it’s a fitting way to celebrate two decades on Route 66.